09/25/2026
Knowledge is power. It is the power to prevent problems, complaints, stress, unforeseen expenses and cost and the beauty is, knowledge is typically cheap and oftentimes free but sometimes the source of knowledge comes from those one would not expect. On the flip side, Wisdom is knowing when to shut your mouth, let go of your ego and listen to the person or people trying their best to pass along knowledge in your direction, for YOUR benefit.
This is a photo of some grout on a floor of a mudroom at one of my friend's house. This is a brand and type of grout that many designers, Builders, GCs and a lot of tile installers will say does not need sealant applied and does NOT stain. ...well....it looks pretty stained to me. A good installer/designer/GC/etc would have known that these people have three young kids and HORSES and that equals mud/dirt on lots of boots.
So as a Builder/PM/CM, how is it that I know this grout should have been sealed OR a different type of grout used and the tile installer and/or "designer" did not? I ask questions and then I READ the manufacturer's spec sheets....yep, that is typically all it takes to gain "knowledge"....READING!
What's the point here? Well, it could be that you as a homeowner may need to do your own research as you cannot rely on what the trades person is telling you. It could be, that you do not need to trust the so-called designer in charge of your project and selections. It could be you don't need to trust the Builder or the GC overseeing your project. The fact is, most builders, unlike myself, have never worn a tool belt. They don't even know what questions need to be asked. They lack wisdom, because often times not only do they not seek out knowledge from various sources but will often reject the information being given to them if it does not come from the expected source of said knowledge.
Gone are the days of the GC and classically trained Designer...we now live in a world of Instagram/Pinterest/Houzz "designers" and "Builders" who have never built a birdhouse. Do your own research. It will save you in the end.
Y'all be good, be smart, be nice, work hard, play hard and, don't forget, to love your neighbor.